Anglo American’s Mining Output Bounces Back After Lockdowns

Anglo American Plc said its mining operations have continued to recover from the early impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with production of diamonds and platinum rising sharply.

The diversified miner’s production jumped by almost a quarter in the three months ending Sept. 30 compared with the previous three months. Anglo’s operations were hit harder than many of its rivals earlier this year due to its reliance on South Africa, where the government imposed stringent lockdown measures. It’s also the world’s biggest producer of diamonds, which were among the hardest-hit commodities.

Read: Anglo American Third Quarter Diamond Production 7.2 Mln Carats

The company maintained most of its full-year production targets, although it slightly lowered thermal coal forecasts after a strike in Colombia. The goal for platinum and palladium was increased after operations were quickly restarted following an explosion at a plant earlier this year.

“We are currently operating at about 95% of our normal capacity,” said Anglo Chief Executive Officer Mark Cutifani. “We have also seen encouraging improvement in demand for rough diamonds as we approach the holiday selling season.”

TAL Education Group Q2 adjusted earnings Miss Estimates

Below are the earnings highlights for TAL Education Group (TAL):

-Earnings: $14.97 million in Q2 vs. -$23.53 million in the same period last year.
-EPS: $0.02 in Q2 vs. -$0.04 in the same period last year.
-Excluding items, TAL Education Group reported adjusted earnings of $52.28 million or $0.08 per share for the period.
-Analysts projected $0.12 per share
-Revenue: $1.10 billion in Q2 vs. $0.91 billion in the same period last year.

-Guidance:
Next quarter revenue guidance: $1061.1 -$1094.3 Mln

UK backs Lockheed Martin plans for satellite launch in Shetland

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain said it had approved plans for U.S. defence company Lockheed Martin LTM.N to move its satellite launch operations to Shetland Space Centre, off the coast of northern Scotland.

Britain is trying to build up its position as a destination of choice for small satellite launches in Europe and said Lockheed’s plans could create hundreds of jobs.

Conservative Icon George Will Predicts The ‘Pouting’ End Of Donald Trump’s Presidency

Donald Trump will end his presidency just as he began it, longtime conservative commentator George Will predicted in his new column for The Washington Post.

And that is by whining.

Trump is “a practitioner of crybaby conservatism,” Will noted in the op-ed published Wednesday.

“His presidency that began with a wallow in self-pity probably will end in ignominy when he slinks away pouting, trailing clouds of recriminations, without a trace of John McCain’s graciousness on election night 2008,” he added.

Will later used the column to call out the GOP, which he left in mid-2016 as Trump became its next presidential candidate.

The Republican Party had “eagerly surrendered its self-respect” in the Trump era, Will lamented, warning that “having hitched its wagon to a plummeting cinder” it “is about to have a rendezvous with a surly electorate wielding a truncheon.”

Will, a vocal opponent of the Trump White House, also suggested Democratic nominee Joe Biden (whom he endorsed in July) could “become the first candidate in 32 years to capture more than 400 electoral votes.” 

Read the full column here.

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Live updates: Trump, Biden to meet in final presidential debate before election

Presidential debate commission introduces ‘mute button’ to keep order

Commission on Presidential Debates co-chairman Frank Fahrenkopf discusses how device will work on ‘The Story’

President Trump’s campaign intends to monitor the technician in charge of the mute button at Thursday night’s final presidential debate after the Commission on Presidential Debates announced this week that it will exercise its ability to silence the candidates if either talks outside his allotted two-minute time slot.

The new format for the Nashville, Tenn., event is a reaction to the first presidential debate, Sept. 29 in Cleveland, which was marred by Trump speaking over Democratic nominee Joe Biden and insulting his intelligence while Biden told Trump to “shut up” and called him a “clown.”

The final presidential debate will be moderated by NBC News' Kristen Welker.

Follow below for updates. Mobile users click here. 

CPI-IW base year revised from 2001 to 2016

No change in DA now

Labour and Employment Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar on Thursday released the revised consumer price index for industrial workers (CPI-IW) from the existing base year of 2001 to 2016.

Labour Secretary Apurva Chandra said the revised index would not lead to an increase in dearness allowance (DA) for government employees at the moment.

The expenditure on food had decreased from 46% to 39%, indicating greater disposable income, he added.

Adidas to sell Reebok: manager magazin

FRANKFURT/MUNICH (Reuters) – Adidas ADSGn.DE is planning to sell its Reebok division, Germany’s manager magazin reported on Thursday.

The group plans to complete the sale by March 2021, the magazine said, without citing sources.

Adidas declined to comment.